Steelers name 2025 captains with 55 NFL seasons, 13 All-Pro nods between them

Reflecting the veteran nature of the roster, the men sharing captaincy for the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t lacking in experience.

The four players announced Monday as those voted by their peers to serve in the official leadership capacity this season have an average age of almost 35 and have been in the NFL for a combined 55 seasons.

Counting the coming season — that kicks off Sunday at the New York Jets — Aaron Rodgers (offense), T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward (defense) and Miles Killebrew (special teams) have combined for 35 seasons worth of team captaincy.

“It’s huge, and it’s something I don’t take lightly,” said Watt, the All-Pro outside linebacker voted captain for a fifth time over the past six seasons. “It’s something I’m continually trying to work on, the leadership role. Talk more, try to reach out to younger guys more, be more encouraging. Things like that have helped me become a better leader. It’s nice to be recognized by the guys.”

on the day he was announced as a defensive captain, TJ Watt tells ⁦@TribLIVE⁩’s ⁦@tribjoerutter⁩ how he’s grown as a leader as he enters Year 9 in the NFL pic.twitter.com/09NW560FkN

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 1, 2025

Watt, Heyward and Killebrew have formed the formal leadership corps — alongside the Steelers’ revolving cast of quarterbacks — for four seasons running. Each of the Steelers captains is a former (or reigning) AP NFL All-Pro, and, along with Rodgers, the quartet represents an aggregate 13 All-Pro honors.

Heyward, 36, is the lone member of the group who was All-Pro last season. The 15-year NFL defensive tackle has been a Steelers co-captain every year since 2015. Only Ben Roethlisberger (13 seasons) has been a captain more often in Steelers history, though 1970s Steelers guard Sam Davis also was an 11-time captain.

Watt, who will turn 31 in October, was voted captain in 2020 in addition to each of the past four seasons. Like Heyward and Rodgers, he is a four-time first-team All-Pro.

Watt, though, implied that being a leader didn’t initially come naturally.

“I’m trying to be more open to talking to guys and not be so ‘lone wolf’ at times,” Watt said Monday after practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I try to work on myself and be more encouraging and let guys know when they did a good job. More so than anything, I’m talking to the offense more and not being such a defensive guy, trying to help out anyway I possibly can.”

In his first season with the Steelers, the 41-year-old Rodgers was named a team captain for a 15th time, including 12 during his 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and each of the past two seasons with the Jets.

One of only two players who have won at least four NFL MVP awards, Rodgers’ choice was an easy one.

“My pen was writing Aaron before I could even think what I was going to write,” quipped running back Jaylen Warren.

Rodgers, though, earned the honor by how quickly he has endeared himself to his new teammates.

“He’s just very transparent. He’s got lots of character, too,” Warren said. “(Rodgers is a) coach and best friend all in one. You can’t ask for more from a quarterback.”

This is the fifth consecutive season the Steelers will have a different quarterback serving as the offensive captain (though in 2022, Mitch Trubisky shared the role with running back Najee Harris).

Though a quarterback has held a formal captaincy 17 times over Mike Tomlin’s 19 seasons as coach, the 21-year NFL veteran Rodgers has played the part despite not joining the team until June.

“He’s done great job relating to guys whether it’s offense, defense, special teams,” Watt said. “Just being a good presence in the locker room for anybody to ask questions.”

Miles Killebrew on again being voted the Steelers special teams captain pic.twitter.com/cqHafDl5mn

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 1, 2025

Killebrew, 32, is in his 10th year in the NFL, his fifth with the Steelers and fourth in a row as special-teams captain. He’s made the Pro Bowl roster as a special teamer each of the past two seasons and was All-Pro for the role in 2023.

“I think that the guys felt comfortable voting me special teams captain because they understand how serious I take special teams,” Killebrew said. “I love it. It’s the reason why I’m here. And I want to make sure that everyone who’s on the unit loves it — or at least pretends to — as much as I do.”